Devil’s Food Party Cake

Devil’s Food Party Cake

Lavished with Vanilla Buttercream & Chocolate Satin Drizzle

 I have a hundreds of recipe ideas bouncing around in my head. Recipe inspiration comes from everywhere - other bakers and pastry chefs, a plate I think a cake would look pretty on, or even a single ingredient I see at the supermarket.  There are so many ideas swirling around in my head that, at times, I am immobilized and can’t make a final decision about what to make. That, my friends, is precisely why I like requests.  Requests give me a goal and I am happy to oblige.   

Today’s request was from my 6 year-old grandson.  He was planning a visit and wanted to know if we could have birthday cake, made to his specifications - for no particular person, just for the fun of it.  He and my 2-year-old granddaughter love to sing “Happy Birthday.” They sing it to themselves, their cousins, and any other relatives who happen to be around - sort of a practice run for the any real birthdays that may come along.  For them, it is thrilling to sing Happy Birthday, help to blow out candles, and relive the highlight moment of any birthday celebration.  As lights are dimmed and the cake arrives with lit candles, their eyes widen with excitement and one of them can’t help but strike up the “Happy Birthday” song.

Today’s particular request was for a devil’s food cake with vanilla frosting, chocolate drips, and of course, colored sprinkles.  According to my grandson, colored sprinkles make it look like a party and make everything taste better. He’s a smart little guy and he pretty much nailed it.  Colored sprinkles are the balloons of the cake world – even as an adult you must admit that is always seems more like a party when there are balloons and colored sprinkles.

Devil’s Food Cake is the perfect party pleasure if you want to get in touch with your devil-may-care childhood spirit and this rendition of it is incredible.  I have taken to simple syrups to keep the cake moist.  Then there are no worries about whether or not the cake will stay perfectly luscious until you serve it. Bakeries do this and sometimes they even baste wedding cakes with flavored syrup.

Enjoy yourself and make everyday a celebration! 

May All Your Sweet Dreams Come True!

And Remember Ladies

Always Stay in Touch with Your Inner Goddess!

DEVIL’S FOOD CAKE INGREDIENTS

2 sticks Unsalted Butter at room temperature

2 cups Granulated Sugar

1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract

3 Large Eggs, lightly whisked

1 cup Whole Milk

2 cups All Purpose Flour

1 package Godiva Instant Dark Chocolate Pudding

¾ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

1 cup Boiling Water or Hot Fresh Made Coffee

SIMPLE SYRUP INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons Butter

1 cup Water

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM INGREDIENTS

1 pound Butter, room temperature

4 pounds Powdered Sugar

1 tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract

¾ - 1 cup Milk

CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE INGREDIENTS

¾ cup Semisweet Chocolate Morsels

3 tablespoons Butter

1 tablespoon Light Corn Syrup

DECORATION INGREDIENTS

Colored Sprinkles and Candles (a must)

Candles (also, a must!)

DEVIL’S FOOD CAKE INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Butter and flour 3, 8-inch cake pans.

Combine flour, pudding mix, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt and then set aside.

Beat butter until creamy.

Add sugar and vanilla to butter and combine well.

Add the eggs, milk and either the hot coffee or the boiling water. 

Combine well.

Slowly add in the dry ingredients.

Bake for 30 – 35 minutes until toothpick inserted just comes out clean.  Watch carefully at the end so you don’t over bake.

Remove cake pans from oven and place on wire racks for 15 minutes. 

Remove cakes from pans.

SIMPLE SYRUP INSTRUCTIONS

Combine butter, sugar and water in a small saucepan. 

Heat and stir until butter and sugar are completely dissolved. 

Remove from heat and add vanilla extract.

Gently poke holes in top of cake layers with a fork and baste cake with simple syrup.

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM INSTRUCTIONS

Beat room temperature butter until creamy.

Add vanilla.

Add powdered sugar and combine well.

Add milk slowly, until you achieve desired consistency.

Frost in between the cake layers, the cake sides, and the top of cake.

CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE INSTRUCTIONS

Melt chocolate, butter, and corn syrup over a double boiler while stirring constantly, just until chocolate is melted and remove from heat.

Let cool for a few seconds and pour around edges of top of cake, letting it drizzle down cake sides.

Top with colored sprinkles and let cool.

Don’t forget the candles!